Apparatus for purging refrigerating systems



April '6 192$,

T. SHEPLEY APPARATUS FOR PURGING REFRIGERATENG SYSTEMS Filed Oct. 18, 1924 systems,

fiLYAlEATUfl FQE PURGIHG: REE'EEGERATTNG SYiSTliliiS.

tlpplicafiion filed October 18, 19%.: Serial I ia. ?%,4Gfi.

and claimed in s tic-pending application Ser. No. 691,058, filed February 6, 1924, since issued as Futons 1,525,007,-snd is partly (ii.- rscted to cer'miu features described. but not claimed, in s gorior application Ser. No. 117,0?2, filed May 31, 192%.

In the prior applications chore identified, there are disclosed a method and certain specific forms of apparatus for removing foreign gases, such ss'uir, gases generated '0 the efieci; of heat ou. lubricating oil, and t e lifie', from the refrigerant, such us why circus ammonia, used in refrigerating sys tems. The prior inventions were based on the fact, not theretofore generally uuderstood, that such foreign gases were heavier than most gaseous refrigerants, particularly anhydrous ammonia, and hence can best he draws irom the bottom of the condenser. Frior to my iuveuciou, the usual pr'uctice was to purge condensers from the top. It laud been observed thou the foreign gases accumulated in the condenser, end this was attributed to lou sg iecific gravity, although,

in fact, it is caused my the existence of liquid seals which operate to trap the use in -the condenser, despite its tendency to flow there" from,

According to my prior sppiicstiou, l inierposc in the liquid'liuc, between the condenser and the receiver, a purge drum sud vu bypass rouud said drum, the connections iaei11 provided with suitable "valves, by means of which the purge drum may he cuifinto or out of the system, the bypass serving to iuziiutuin the system in operation when the purge drum is cut out. In both of my prior apparatus applications, I show means for preventing the passage of foreign gases beyond the purge drum, said meanscouiprisisg an oil separating trap. In certaiu cases it may not he desired to use such an .oil trap, and the. present application is designed to disclose and to claim syecifically a construction in which the liquid in the '3 main receiver is caused to perform this trap function.

lnthe earlier of my two'co-pending apparutus applications I disclose a. drain for the purge drum, byrneuns of which the recovcred liquid refrigerant is returned to the suction line, In the later of said two applicutions I disclose a construction by which the recovered refrigerant is discharged'to the receiver; This feature of dischar'ging to F9 ihc receiver the recovered refrigerant is reserved in said prior application for the present application, in which it is claimed.

, A preferred, embodiment of the inventiori is disclosed in the accompanying drawing in 75 diagrammatic elevation.

A portion of the condenser is shown at 1,

the inlet or gas header, at 2, the outlet, or

liquid header, st 3, and a thermometer mserted in a well in the liquid header at 4:..

This condenser is shown as of the familiar atmospheric type, and in practice would be equipped with the usual wuteucooling sprays flowing in contact with the condenser coils from the overhead tank 5 to the pan or sump 6. The type of condenser is immutcrial, provided it be so constructed or so operated that the liquid refrigerant is pre: vented from forming liquid sealsor traps,

either in. the lower coils of the condenser or W in the liquid header 3.

This is an important consideration, for the existence of such. traps or seals serves to confine foreign gases to the condenser, de-

spite their tendency to flow therefrom by 95 rarity. Hence it is essential to the successiui operstlon of my system that the ex1stonce, or at any rate the continued existence of such seals he precluded.

The liquid refrigerant line 26 leads ,di-

rectiy downward throu' h e Valve 2'? to the receiver 7, pipe 26 exte'n ing to a point 8 near the bottom of the receiver 7 so that it discharges ut s substantial depth beneath the surface of the liquid refrigerantin the re- 3 5 'ceiver.

A branch 9 leads from the liquid line 26 through a "valve 10 to the top of the purge drum 11., The bottom of the purge drum 11 is connected by a pipe 12 with the receiver 7, the pipe 1.2 extending to a poiu 13 near the bottom of the receiver 7 so that it, too, discharges at a substantial distance Has w L suhiclsm to wntsm gummy sf Emmi refrigerant, 5! aints fl1837a21 Whmh A is is, n& 11 ,A. saw. :12. w s pangs rum blur sush as as hemzm ,5. as m gs ms isggzssvsisdwimh a. was I w a .16 1.1 .4.6. W151 wlvsd W ens 1.8. is, tv-rsvzdls i with smingsmtmg 201?. 3.9

whicl'z is 23 with khmugi's psnsien waive Zi), the; szzpssdscl l'slfx'igsa'am "psssinp fram the coil 'w the suction line fln'oug; 1. a pipe 23.. Liquid smmssisis drawn fmm the rscsives' 5? shmug h s pips line 29,

m nipped. wit? cumufistism in the gums 411mm 11. m is con is pmv siss 's csxmsctions 01" the sud a: we rscivsr 0ml; is is shvisusfiy nsttsssszmkimfi and I aim 210?; iimis mysslf as this mnstmcfiisn szcspt when ssseificsiiy rscissd is. the. chiims.

srisus nth-aw m ifisstimss sf 0 ps-ssilfis, .ss smphtsdi.

'ifissmr 'ordlimry rmmwg wudiiisn the, T1 3, 14, smi iii-sits spa-1s... Whsn the prsssm's age shows s. hsm'i FIX/5311i?! f in smsss sf lshwb mrrsspondng 'w 1's in the liquid hssdsr as wwzs s msrswmstsr 4. wives 10, and 15 Expsnsinn waive 910 is spams. r sking chilling by mail if) wiifi lugus'fy 7 5' mtisfiy s11 the refrigerant gas in purge i1 am} when this result has been :11;- t'insd .16 "will come to rest. Valve 1 o gsssd 0 drain the Fliqusfied rsfrigsr- 21116. sgaiin closed, Valve 18 is assessed to was?) him confined foreign asss firms drmn l1 and 7&1Jfi 20 is dosed. 'ihsrs s1 valve 3.8;is closed and valves 10., 1 2-, ms ()psnsci, Wis is claimed is: L The csmbimmicmsfi s liquid rsfris stsii are s1..sss,sss

drum in communication with. said liquid line bslsw said csndemssr and arranged to so cumulsts nois-csndenssbls gases by gravity flaw 1 mm the cezsdsnssr; refrigerating mews in said (hum npsxsbie to liqusfy refriggsram; gas shears prsssm; valve means 0 srsbls ice isoists ssifi drum from said liquid line, and its return liquid. refrigerant from said drum is said fins, whils maintaining said isolation; and valves. means for vsniimg said drum.

2. The combinstion 3 :1 receiver. for iiquid z'efnigersm; s candenssr for liqusfying refrigerant; a liquid line connected to rsceive iiquid refrigerant and. non-condsnssbls gases from saiifi condenser and to discharge into said}. rscsivesbsneath the surface of liquid therein; a purge dlgum below the bettom of said; condenser nsrmsfiy in csmmunication with said Riquid line and srrangsd is 210011 muists nms-condssssbls gases by gravity flow "from ssid csndsnser; means operable to isolate ssii drum from said liquid line; means egsrsbls fto'iiqusfy refrigerant gss in ssh drum; a ccmnection spersble to discharge liquid refrigerant from sinful (hum mm said reasivs" While mainmining she Emission sf suici drum; and valve msans for venting said drum.

3 'Ehs combinstisn m? s csndsnser consin-nosed and arr'ange& 5x) discharge liquefied refrigerant and; ham-condensabis gas-es; s

s rsesive's feel by ssld liquid line smi so arranger thst liquid! rsfi igersnfi; there-in. forms a trap sealing against 'thssmmnfye of gases into the rs sewer from ssld liquid fine; s purge drum nm'mslly in csmnmnicstion with said liquid @ms to r scervs s'ases shcrefi'om; means for lsolsiimg said drum from sand line; refrigcrating means i 02 liquefying refrigerant drum.

tsstirsnny svlasrsm: have si gssd my name ts this specancamz. 

